Grease gun



Jan. 15; I929.

J. B. HOLTSON GREASE GUN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1925 Jan. 15, 1929. 1,699,293

J. B. HOLTSON GREASE GUN Filed June 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JJ 40 J8 J6 7 I I 50 2 l /J 46 47 46 g kaw .I J g 2,

E63! F/ /5 E0 5 t I. E4 /5 f ;7 EU 2 MM 4 1 J Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce.

JAMES HOLTSON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HOLTSON MANUFAC- TUBING CORPORATION, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A GORPOBATION OI MARY- LAND.

GREASE GUN.

Application ma June 2, 1925. Serial no. 3am.

The inventionrelates to grease guns for forcing lubricant to any desired place where its use is needed.

The primary object of the invention, generally stated, 18 to provide a rease gun by means of which lubricant within any ordinary drum, container, canister, or the like, may be forced under pressure to a more or less remote point. The object of the invention, more particularly stated, is the provision of a basket or cage-like enclosing frame within which drums or other receptacles of different sizes, shapes and types may be disposed, the frame releasably carrying the grease gun which is consequently supported in proper position independently of the container, the grease gun including an operating screw engaged by and passing through a split nut which is releasable to permit rapid retraction of the operating piston.

A further object is the rovision of a a grease gun and frame there or with which is associated a follower which is slidably mounted and which is designed to rest upon the surface of the lubricant in the drum or other container not only to exclude grit and dirt but also to serve as means whereby the lubricant may be manually pressed down.

The invention further contemplates the improvement of devices of this general character whereby the efiiciency and ease of operation will be increased without sacrificing simplicity and cheapness of production.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention consists in the construction and arran ei ment of parts to be hereinafter fully escribed and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being, however, understood that various changes andmodifications in the details may be made to widen i i the field of usefulness, provided such variations constitute no departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device,

Figure 2 a side elevation thereof, and

Figure 3 1s a central longitudinal section the view being taken on the line 33 of Figure 1, and the drum or container being shown in broken lines. Referr ng more particularly to the drawings, I have illustrated the device as comprising a basket-like frame designated broadly by the numeral 1 and here repre' sented as including a series of hoops 2 connected by spaced upstanding strips 3 which have their lower ends and arranged in crosse bottom supports 4. This frame is intended to receive a drum, canister, or other container 5 which need not be of any specific dprojected inwardly size or shape butwhich may in actual practice be the original container within which lubricant is put up by the manufacturer. Obviously, it is within the'scope of the in ventionto provide a differently constructed frame and to emplo, a special container.

The grease gun, esignated as a Whole by the numeral 6, ,is intended to be inserted within the lubricant contained in the receptacle 5 and is supported by a head 7 ofsufrelation to define.

ficient length to extend entirely across and beyond the frame diametrically thereof. It is intended that the head he detachably mounted, and a convenient arrangement is to equip the end portions thereof with L or angle bolts 8, the heads ,9 of which normally engage beneath the uppermost hoop2. The clamping action may be obtained by wing or other nuts 10 threaded onto theupper ends of these bolts and bearing uponthe top of the head. At its central portion the head is formed with an upstanding neck 11" terminating in an outwardly extending flange 12 and having an openin 13 therethrough within which is screwe or otherwise secured the upper end of the barrel 14.

Suitably mounted upon the lower end of the barrel is an end member 15 formed with an opening 16 defining a valve seat. At the opening is a spider-like bearin a bore 18 within which isguida ly mounted the stem 19 of a valve 20 normally closing the seat at the opening 16. This member 15 is provided with a lateral extension 21 throu h which extends an upstanding pipe or tube parallel relation to the barrel 14. Theportion of this pipe or tube projecting below the extension 21 is closed, as for instance, by means of a closure cap 23 seatingagain st 17 havin 22 arranged preferably in spaced gasket be interposed between the upper a suit-able gasket or washer 24. It may be preferable to provide a nut 25 on this tube bearing against the upper surface of the extension 21 for clamping the parts together and making a tight joint. The extension 21 is formed with a passage or hole 26 leading into the barrel l i above the valve and the pipe 22 is formed with a hole 27 registering with this passage.

The head 7 is formed with a lateral extension 28 having a recess 29 within which the upper end of the pipe or tube 22 is secured, and communicating with this recess is an outlet Jassage 30. The outer end of the extension 2 may be threaded or otherwise formed for connection of a hose or other preferably flexible conduit therewith in order that grease discharged from the gun may be conducted to the desired location.

Movably mounted within the barrel is a piston 31 carried by a screw 32 equipped with a suitable handle 33 or other means by which either longitudinal or rotary movement may be imparted to the piston. The feed means for the screw comprises a split nut indicated broadly by the numeral 34 and including a pair of sections 35 and 36 pivotally connected with each other and pivotally mounted 011 the head 7, as shown at 37. These sections have threaded half bores 38 therein which mate and which engage the screw 32, Furthermore, the nut sections are recessed or undercut at 39 to conformingly engage or receive the flange 12 for preventing displacement of the nut with respect to the head 7 and for avoiding strain on the pivot 37. It is preferable that a yieldable end of the barrel It and the split nut for making a tight joint and preventing leakage in addition to serving as a buffer preventing shock when the piston is pulled upwardly during the operation of filling the gun. The nut sections 35 and 36 terminate in extensions 41 and 42. the former of which carries I a pivoted bolt 43 engageable within a slot 4e in the latter and equipped with a nut 45. Any other equivalent means might be used for securing the sections of the nut together but the structure described is well adapted for the purpose and will insure a proper holding action.

I find it a considerable advantage to employ a follower plate 46 of a size to fit preferably more or less snugly within the grease container and this follower plate is provided with openings 47 and 48 for the accommodation of the barrel i l and tube 22, respectively. This follower is intended to rest upon the surface of the grease and naturally it will descend by gravity as the grease is discharged by the gun. If the weight is insutiicient, manual pressure may be applied so asto cause the grease to pack and fill the bottom portion of the container. Another advantage is that this plate serves to exclude dust, dirt and grit which would impair the quality if allowed to fall upon or become mixed with the lubricant.

In the use of the device it is evident that the head 7 carrying the entire grease gun mechanism must be disengaged from the frame to permit the insertion of a grease container within the latter. Assuming that such a container has been placed in position, the head 7 is engaged upon the uppermost hoop 2, the angle bolts 3 are turned so that the heads 9 thereof will engage beneath the uppermost hoop, and the nuts 10 are tightened. As the head and gun are thus placed in position, the barrel 1st is forced down into and through the grease contained within the receptacle. It will be understood that the piston should be at the lower limit of its movement prior to the insertion of the gun within the grease.

When the device has been positioned as indicated, the sections 35 and 36 of the split nut should be disconnected and swung apart out of engagement with the screw 32 and the outlet hose or conduit closed by some means, whereupon a pull may be applied to the handle 33 for drawing up the piston 31. The suction produced below the piston will cause the grease within the container 5 to be drawn through the opening 16 and into the barrel, thus effecting filling thereof. The sections 35 and 36 of the split nut are then swung together and secured by engaging the bolt 43 within the slot ti t and tightening the nut 45. To conduct grease to the place desired, the handle 33, or other equivalent means provided, is turned to move the piston 31 downwardly within the barrel. The pressure thus developed causes the valve 20 to close and the grease in advance of the piston is forced out through the passage 22 and hole 27, through the tube 22 into the recess 29, and bore or passage 30, from which the grease will flow through any conduit pro vided, which in actual practice will probably be a flexible hose.

After the barrel is emptied in this manner the split nut is again opened and the piston retracted to effect recharging. This is continued until the drum or container 5 is emptied, The follower 46 provides means whereby the grease may be pressed down either by weight of the follower or by the application of more or less slight manual pressure thereon.

i A device constructed in accordance with the invent-ion will be found highly advantageous and convenient inasmuch as the use of extraneous pressure devices will be avoided and any necessity for manual filling 0f the gun eliminated.

Having now described my invention. What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a frame adapted to receive a lubricant container, a su port detachably mounted on the top of tiie frame, and a grease gun carried by and depending from said support, the frame being of basket form and including vertically spaced hoops and vertically extending strips secured thereto and formed to provide a bottom for the frame.

2. In combination, a frame adapted to receive a lubricant container, a support detachably mounted at the top of the frame, and a grease gun carried by and depending from said support, the gun including a barrel, an inlet valve at the bottom thereof, a discharge pipe communicating with the lower portion of the barrel, a screw extending within the barrel, a piston carried by the screw, and a releasable split nut on the support engaging the screw and serving as a closure for the barrel.

3. A device of the character described comprising a frame adapted to receive a lubricant container, a support clamped upon the frame, and a grease gun depending from the support and adapted to be inserted within the lubricant in the container, the gun including a barrel having an inlet valve at its lower end, a discharge pipe communicating with the barrel near the lower end thereof and extending within the support, an outlet in the support communicating with the pipe, a piston movable within the barrel, a screw carrying the piston, and a split feed nut mounted on the support and engaging the screw.

4:. A device of the character described comprising a frame adapted to receive a lubricant container, a support clamped upon the frame, and a grease gun depending from the support and adapted to be inserted within the lubricant in the container, the gun including a barrel terminating at the support and having an inlet valve at its lower end, a discharge pipe communicating with the barrel near the lower end thereof and terminating at the support, a piston movable within the barrel, a screw carrving the piston, and a split feed nut mounted on the support and engaging the screw, the support having an upstanding neck portion surrounding the barrel and terminating in an outstanding flange, and the split nut being recessed for the reception of said flange.

5. In combination, a frame adapted to receive a lubricant container, a support detachably mounted on the top of the frame, a grease gun carried by and depending from said support, an upstanding discharge pipe communicating with the lower portion of the barrel, and a follower slid-ably mounted within the container and formed with openings for the accommodation of the barrel and discharge pipe.

6. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a basket-like frame adapted to receive a lubricant container, a transverse support mounted on top of the frame, clamping means on the sup ort engaging the upper portion of the rame, a grease gun depending from said support and including a barrel, apiston and an operating screw, and a split nut mounted on the support cooperating with said screw and forming a closure for the barrel.

7. In a grease gun, a support having an opening therethrough, a barrel secured; within said opening, the support having a constricted neck surrounding the barrel and terminating in an outstanding flange, a screw carried piston within the barrel having operating means, a split nut including a pair of sections pivotally connected to each other and pivoted upon the support for normally cooperating with the screw, the sections being undercut to receive said flange, and a discharge pipe communicating with the lower end of the barrel.

8. In a grease gun, a head having an opening therethrough and formed with a lateral extension provided with a passage and a recess communicating therewith, a barrel secured at one end within said opening, a split nut mounted on the head, a piston within the barrel, an operating screw for the piston engaged within said nut, a member closing the other end of the barrel and formed with a lateral extension having a pas age communicating with the barrel and a bore intersecting the passage, an inlet valve in said member, and a discharge pipe having one end secured within said recess and its other end secured within said bore and communicating with the second named passage.

9. A device of the nature disclosed comprising a cylinder, a piston longitudinally slida-ble therein, a screw-threaded operating rod connected with the piston, a transversely split cap surrounding the rod and forming a closure for the cylinder, said cap comprising companion half members having intermeshing engagement with the cylinder when closed, to maintain the cap against movement relative to the cylinder, and internally screw-threaded portions each forming a half-nut engaging the rod, the halfmembers being hingedly connected to the cylinder to swing transversely apart so as to disengage the half-nut portions from the rod and to uncover the cylinder bore to permit a removal of the rod and piston, and releasable means for maintaining the cap members against separation.

10. A device of the nature disclosed comprising a cylinder, a flange ring surrounding and secured to the upper end of the cylinder and having an external flange, and a laterally extended support at one side of the cylinder, a piston longitudinally slidable Within the cylinder, a screw-threaded operating rod connected with the piston, a transversely split cap surrounding the rod and forming a closure for the cylinder and comprising companion half-members each having an internally screw-threaded portion forming a half-nut engaging the rodand an internal lip engaging beneath the flange of the ring to maintain the cap against axial movement, said half-members being pivotally mounted upon the flange ring support for transverse separation to uncover the cylinder bore and disengage the half-nut portions from the rod to permit a removal of the rod and piston, and releasable means preventing separation of said members.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES B. HOLTSON. 

